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Science News Archive January 2025 - Page 35


Page 35 of 44

Conversing with chatbots: What influences trust?

Research reveals that competence and integrity are key factors influencing trust in AI chatbots, with benevolence also playing a role. Personalized chatbots are perceived as more benevolent and competent, but overall trust was not significantly higher than in impersonal chatbots.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateJan 9, 2025

Did prehistoric kangaroos run out of food?

A new study reveals that prehistoric kangaroos in southern Australia had a general diet that allowed them to adapt to environmental changes and climate shifts, contradicting previous assumptions about their survival. The research used advanced dental analysis techniques to study microscopic wear patterns on fossilised teeth.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 9, 2025

Milestone in the field of lung transplantation: improvement in rejection and infection rate thanks to extracorporeal photopheresis

A new study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that extracorporeal photopheresis significantly reduces acute rejection episodes and chronic rejection risk in lung transplant patients. The treatment involves exposure to UV light, leading to apoptosis of immune cells and minimizing side effects.

SourceMedical University of Vienna·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateJan 9, 2025

Teaching of intercultural communication calls for increasingly diverse approaches

A new study highlights the need for multiple approaches in teaching intercultural communication, focusing on three cultural perspectives: positivist, interpretive, and critical. Effective teaching emphasizes genuine interaction, acknowledging cultural diversity and examining phenomena from multiple angles.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalBusiness and Professional Communication Quarterly·DateJan 9, 2025

The discourses emerging around the “La Manada” case led to social and legal changes

A study by University of the Basque Country researcher Samara Velte analyzed media content, legal texts, and protests to understand how social identities were constructed and influenced by discourses. The study found that social memory played a major role in shaping the conflict, leading to the passage of the 'Only “yes” means “yes”' law.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalViolence Against Women·DateJan 9, 2025

Physical signals as fate deciders: How mechanical forces extrude cells from tissues

Physical signals from mechanical forces play a crucial role in determining the fate of cells being extruded from tissues. The study reveals that the intensity and duration of these forces determine whether dead or live cells are eliminated, with implications for tissue homeostasis and cancer progression.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2025

Distance affects use of telehealth to access abortion pills

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that patients living far from abortion facilities rely more on telehealth and mail for birth-control medications, citing socioeconomic factors as a key factor. The researchers also found that 20% of U.S. abortions now occur through telehealth services.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalJournal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 9, 2025

Study highlights key factors for successful restoration of elkhorn coral colonies

Elkhorn coral restoration efforts should prioritize shallower depths with faster currents to promote a healthier microbial community. Fine-scale environmental differences between reef habitats are associated with higher elkhorn survivorship, while certain bacteria and elevated nutrients negatively affect survival.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 9, 2025

New Neurology® Open Access journal announced

The American Academy of Neurology has launched a new open access journal called Neurology Open Access. The journal publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles in all areas of neurology and clinical neurosciences, aiming to improve decision-making by clinicians and promote brain health. Amy Kunchok is the editor-in-chief of the journal.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateJan 9, 2025

Research Spotlight: Lipid nanoparticle therapy developed to stop tumor growth and restore tumor suppression

Researchers developed a novel approach using lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA and siRNA, restoring tumor suppressors and inhibiting tumor drivers in prostate cancer cells. This technique holds promise for treating various types of cancer by targeting specific pathways related to tumor growth and suppression.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalACS Nanoscience Au·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2025

Shade plants in the spotlight

Researchers discovered that plants in shaded conditions receive a larger proportion of green and far-red light, which contributes to photosynthesis. This finding may help growers develop new methods for supplementing natural sunlight with colored light.

SourceUtrecht University·JournalPlant Cell & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2025

Regular physical activity before cancer diagnosis may lower progression and death risks

A study published in BJSP found that individuals with stage 1 cancers who engaged in low to moderate levels of physical activity had lower rates of disease progression and death compared to those with no recorded physical activity. Physical activity was associated with a 16-47% lower risk of disease progression and death, respectively.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 8, 2025

Herbivore or carnivore? – A new toolbox for the study of extinct reptiles

Researchers compiled a reference framework of isotope compositions indicating the type of diet for extant reptiles, providing a useful dataset to reconstruct the diet of fossil reptiles. The analysis showed that calcium isotope ratios are higher in insectivorous reptiles and lower in herbivores and carnivores.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJan 8, 2025

Synthetic chemicals and chemical products require a new regulatory and legal approach to safeguard children’s health

A report by the Consortium for Children's Environmental Health calls for new laws to test chemicals for safety and toxicity before they enter markets. The authors propose a more precautionary approach to prioritize health protection over unconstrained production of synthetic chemicals and plastics.

SourceBoston College·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 8, 2025

How people make life's biggest decisions

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Human Development identified five key dimensions of transformative life decisions: conflicting cues, change of self, uncertain experiential value, irreversibility, and risk. The study proposes simple decision strategies to address these dimensions, including tallying, ideal self-realization, lear...

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Development·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateJan 8, 2025

Researchers unravel a novel mechanism regulating gene expression in the brain that could guide solutions to circadian and other disorders

Researchers have identified a novel mechanism controlling circadian gene expression and behavioral rhythms through chemical bonding of monoamine neurotransmitters to histone proteins. This discovery could lead to targeted therapies for conditions involving circadian rhythm disruptions, such as insomnia and depression.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Researchers shed light on how to predict which skin cancer patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy

A new study has identified macrophage activity as a key predictor of which skin cancer patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy. The findings aim to improve personalized medicine for cancer patients and enable clinicians to select effective treatments, reducing side effects and costs.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJCO Oncology Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Proximity effect: Method allows advanced materials to gain new property

Researchers at Penn State have discovered a method to create ferroelectric materials without chemical modifications, offering promising future impacts on electronic devices. The technique, called proximity ferroelectricity, enables the creation of ferroelectric materials by stacking them with another ferroelectric material.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function

A new study found that exposure to high aircraft noise levels can lead to stiffer and thicker heart muscles, increasing the risk of poor heart function and major cardiac events. People exposed to night-time aircraft noise were particularly at risk, with increased risks of heart attacks, life-threatening rhythms, and strokes.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 8, 2025

MA3C: Enhancing communication robustness in multi-agent learning through adaptable auxiliary multi-agent adversary generation

The MA3C method proposes an adaptable approach to generate auxiliary multi-agent adversaries for robust communication-based policies. It overcomes existing challenges and achieves superior performance on various cooperative multi-agent benchmarks, showcasing its high generalization ability.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Fulfilling the promise of noninvasive brain stimulation as a precision medicine tool - A free webinar from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

A free webinar by Brain & Behavior Research Foundation presents advancements in neurobiology of fight-or-flight responding and its targeting using noninvasive brain stimulation technologies. The discussion focuses on transcranial magnetic stimulation and focused ultrasound for developing new treatments.

Study finds deadly bacteria behave differently in Saudi Arabia compared with rest of world

A recent study found that multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibits distinct characteristics in Saudi Arabia, with molecular factors contributing to increased virulence and severity. The researchers highlight the need for tailored surveillance programs and new antimicrobial agents to address this local threat.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalEmerging Microbes & Infections·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Climate change linked with worse HIV prevention and care

Climate change is associated with poorer HIV prevention outcomes, including reduced testing and increased risk behaviors, leading to higher new infections and poorer treatment adherence. Researchers identified links between extreme weather events and HIV-related challenges, emphasizing the need for innovative interventions and strategies.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalCurrent Opinion in Infectious Diseases·DateJan 8, 2025

Does job strain compromise long-term sleep quality?

A recent study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that high job strain at the start of a nine-year study led to increased sleep disturbances among middle-aged workers. The study analyzed data from over 1,700 workers and discovered significant associations between higher job strain and poorer sleep quality.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine·DateJan 8, 2025